I have really enjoyed my job teaching 7th grade ELA. I have been at it 15 years, and aside from a mostly unpleasant 3 year stint in 8th grade, it's all I have ever known. I really like 7th graders. They really get excited and start to like you after a while as long as you stay consistent and funny. However, the past few years have left me feeling very stuck for a variety of reasons. Our school keeps pushing initiatives nobody wants, like competency grading and PBL. It's just a constant drip drip drip of awful ideas, every new year a fresh assault on common sense. We teach these lessons about ..read more

Hi all! I am looking for some professional development courses/book recommendations to do over the summer. I have just moved to 9th & 12th grade ELA after teaching 6th for 4 years. I am specifically looking for resources that will improve my practice in writing, grammar, and vocabulary instruction. I teach with some struggling students so especially anything on how to run elementary level interventions that don’t embarrass a high schooler would be great. Thanks for any help you can give :) submitted by /u/Specialist_List6385 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I like to give the kids PDF copies of our books, and my Flowers for Algernon is not good. It's missing random words, misspelling Charlie's misspellings, and for some reason won't find certain words when I use CTRL+F. I would be extremely grateful! (Google was not helpful.) submitted by /u/Ben_Frankling [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I’m looking for some of your favorite activities you use for CEA writing and reading comprehension. We’ve been working through a YA novel the past couple of weeks and I feel like it’s time to mix it up a bit regarding the things we do. It is tough because I teach a small class - 6 students in total (SPED). Anything beyond just pure worksheets and graphic organizers is appreciated! submitted by /u/MRPOOKIE89 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

Looking to read something as a class for the last few weeks of school. Got these from the Gateway Awards (we're in MO) and was curious if any of you have read these yet! View Poll submitted by /u/Ok_Statement_6757 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

Hello! I am coming up on the end of the year (and the end of my student teaching), and I want to end with something a bit more upbeat and fun! I also want to end on a high note. We just read "Anthem" by Ayn Rand, and I don't want to go back to a dryer text, or something from their books. I have 12th grade, and many are checked out already. Any suggestions? submitted by /u/Exotic-Complaint-420 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

Most lists I'm finding online are focused on production and the theatre, but I'm more focused on scripts for reading, not performing. submitted by /u/Censius [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I’ve recently been hired by a homeschool co-op to teach 9/10th ELA. I have a degree in middle school ELA, but haven’t been using it for about 5 years. I’ve been out of the ELA world for a bit and need assistance learning the high school side of things. I want to do this right and well. The director mentioned wanting this class to focus more on “fun” literature. I think that literature is what you make it, but I would love some suggestions for this specific age group. Are there some specific works of literature/ novel studies that are a hit with your students of this age? I’m building this cou ..read more

I picked this novel out, but don’t want to give students more than they can chew. Is this appropriate for their age/ grade level? A couple of my students are 14, but most are 15. Has anyone assigned this book to their students? Thanks! submitted by /u/thesadscot [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I’m in my final semester of college student teaching in 11th American lit. I have the tall task of teaching TGG and my students are behind on reading due to state testing. Is it okay to skip chapter 6 so we get back on track? submitted by /u/Odd-Resident-6498 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more